Fourteen members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club pleaded guilty last week to charges of violent crimes in aid of racketeering, illegal drug distribution and firearms violations. The Outlaws have a long-standing violent history with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, including assaults/batteries, shootings and fatalities.

Leaders, members and gang associates of Outlaws’ chapters in Fort Wayne, Ind., Indianapolis, and areas of Detroit including Eastside, Detroit Westside, Downriver and Bay City were subdued. The charges included conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and hashish; possessing a firearm after conviction for a felony; and sale of a firearm to a known felon.

Robert Castillo, aka “Big Rob” and “Mexican Rob,” is currently awaiting trial on charges of distributing cocaine. Kenneth Creslaw, aka “KC,” is charged with distributing marijuana and remains a fugitive.

The original 18-count indictment alleged that the Outlaws Motorcycle Club is an enterprise whose members allegedly committed, attempted to, and threatened to commit acts of violence to protect and expand the gang’s criminal operations. Several of the defendants were charged with allegedly assaulting various members of the rival Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, in some cases with dangerous weapons including a hammer, motorcycle parts and a cane. Several defendants allegedly trafficked in the sale of narcotics, including methamphetamine, marijuana, hashish and cocaine, while others were charged with various firearms offenses.

The Outlaws Motorcycle Club has been identified as an international criminal organization whose members and associates engage in acts of violence including murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery, kidnapping, narcotics sales and distribution, illegal firearms trafficking and gambling offenses. The Outlaws are a structured and hierarchical gang, divided into multiple regions in the United States. The Outlaws also have members worldwide, including Europe, Asia and Canada.

“Unfortunately, far too many Americans live in fear of gang-related violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer. “By working with our federal, state and local partners to target these gangs, we take violent individuals off the street and weaken the chokehold that gangs like the Outlaws have on our communities.”

“The guilty pleas by a large number of leaders and members of this illegal motorcycle gang are a good example of the success that comes from effective federal, state and local law enforcement cooperation,” said U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg. “This case has managed to put a damper on the heightened dangers of violence and other criminal acts posed by organized gangs such as the Outlaws. The ATF, FBI and their state and local law enforcement partners did an excellent job in bringing the down the illegal activities of the Outlaws in the Eastern District of Michigan.”

“One of ATF’s primary missions is to make our communities safer from the criminal activity of violent gangs, such as the Outlaws. The magnitude of the pain, suffering and fear that violent gangs bring to our communities is immeasurable,” said Thomas Brandon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ATF Detroit Field Division. “ATF, along with our local, state and federal partners, remains committed to stemming the hold that violent gangs like the outlaws have on our neighborhoods.”

The guilty pleas were the result of “Operation Broken Spoke,” “Operation Detroit Mugger,” and “Operation End Game,” a five-year investigation by the ATF; the FBI; the National Drug Intelligence Center; Michigan State Police; the Detroit Police Department; the South Bend, Ind., Police Department; and the Fort Wayne Police Department.